BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 Black Friday shoppers hunting for deals this year may end up spending more than expected, as ongoing tariffs continue to impact product prices across multiple categories.<\/p>\n
While many Bakersfield residents are avoiding the traditional in-store Black Friday rush, they’re still seeking holiday savings through alternative methods.<\/p>\n
“Not so much on the day after Thanksgiving, too many people, too many lines,” James Munroe said.<\/p>\n
His wife, Andrea Munroe, has already completed most of her holiday shopping online, a strategy that may offer the best savings opportunities this year.<\/p>\n
“So you will have access to a larger inventory online, which means you might have access to a little deeper discounts than you would here,” said Aaron Hegde, a professor of economics and agricultural business at California State University, Bakersfield.<\/p>\n
However, Hegde warns that tariffs have created uncertainty for retailers, affecting inventory planning and driving up prices nationwide. The advertised discounts may not represent the savings they appear to offer.<\/p>\n
“You might still be seeing 30% off, 40% off, but the question is, 30% off of what? So if the price has already gone up 50% and then you give a 50% discount on that, that’s really only like a 25% discount,” Hegde said.<\/p>\n
Consumers could end up spending up to 10% more on gifts this year compared to last year, with electronics seeing some of the biggest price increases. This trend particularly impacts major retailers like Best Buy.<\/p>\n
“Are they willing to sell more volume at a lower margin, or will they hold onto the margin and not sell as much?” Hegde said.<\/p>\n
The economics professor encourages shoppers to research thoroughly, compare prices across multiple platforms, and maintain strict budgets \u2014 even if that means skipping the newest gadgets.<\/p>\n
“Shop online, of course. And the Black Friday deals are already here, so you don’t even have to wait for Friday,” Andrea Munroe said.<\/p>\n
Hegde advises consumers to shop early rather than waiting closer to Christmas, when deals become fewer and farther between.<\/p>\n
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.<\/p>\n
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